April 8, 2008

AUSTIN, TEXAS - The No. 1 ranked University of Alabama golf team played its final round of the 2007-08 regular season Tuesday, though it would finish seventh at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate.

The two-day, 54-hole tournament was held Monday and Tuesday at the University of Texas Golf Club. Texas, the tournament host, shot 3-over par Tuesday to climb from third to win the tournament at 16-over, shooting 291-290-287/868 on the par 71 course. Fifth-ranked Oklahoma State slipped from first to finish second after shooting 13-over in the final round and scoring 874 for the tournament. UNLV was third, 876, followed by Auburn, 883, Texas Tech and Central Florida, 885, Alabama (301-287-298/886), Louisville, 887, Brigham Young, 880, Pepperdine, 898, TCU, 904, Fresno State, 910, Tulsa, 915, San Diego, 917, and New Mexico, 920.

Alabama played the tournament without its low stroke leader and All-American, Michael Thompson. Thompson is in Augusta, Ga., this week competing as one of the three amateurs in the 2008 Masters Tournament.

Joseph Sykora had Alabama's best finish in Texas. He finished at 6-over par and in a tie for 13th, shooting 70-73-76/219. Next for the Crimson Tide was Matthew Swan who finished a shot back and tied for 17th (80-66-74/220). Matt Hughes finished tied for 29th at 11-over, 76-75-73/234. Mark Harrell finished 14-over and in a tied at 39th (79-73-75/227), and Gator Todd finished tied for 52nd at 17-over (76-76-79/230).

Texas swept the top two individual spots, producing the tournament's medalist, Bobby Hudson. Hudson shot 73-70-65/208 to finish at 5-under par and four shots ahead of his teammate, Charlie Holland, who finished second at 1-under (68-73-71/212).

Alabama, winner of five of its nine regular season stroke play tournaments this season, now readies for the championship portion of its schedule. Next up for the Tide is the Southeastern Conference Championships held April 18-20 at Sea Island, Ga. Alabama will receive a bid for the NCAA Championships when invitations are extended on May 5. The NCAA Golf Regionals are May 15-17 with the East Regional in Chattanooga, Tenn., the Central Regional is in Columbus, Ohio, and the West Regional is in Bremerton, Washington.